90802 / May 2014

Freedom of Information Request

You asked for the following information:

“I would like to make an FOI request regarding the Healthy Sexual Functioning (HSF)/Healthy Sex Programme (HSP) course being run at HMP Bullingdon and at HMP Bure.

Question 1: For each of HMP Bullingdon and HMP Bure how many prisoners are currently on the waiting list for the HSF/HSP course, and how many of these are yet to be assessed for suitability for this course?

Question 2: For each of HMP Bullingdon and HMP Bure how many facilitators/psychologists are there working on the HSF/HSP course?

Question 3: For each of HMP Bullingdon and HMP Bure what is the expected waiting time between the arrival of a prisoner at the establishment and (a) assessment for suitability for this course, and (b) completion of this course?

Question 4: For each of HMP Bullingdon and HMP Bure are there any known planned changes that would affect the answers to questions (1), (2) and/or (3) in the near future?”

Your request has been handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).


I can confirm that the Ministry of Justice holds the information you ask for in question 1 and 2 and I am pleased to provide this to you below:

Question 1: For each of HMP Bullingdon and HMP Bure how many prisoners are currently on the waiting list for the HSF/HSP course, and how many of these are yet to be assessed for suitability for this course?

HMP Bullingdon has 3 men located on site who have been referred for the HSP. Two of these are awaiting assessment.

HMP Bure has 14 men located on site who have been referred for the HSP. All cases require completion of assessment.

This information is taken from the HSP central referral dataset 06/05/14. This dataset pulls all HSP referrals together in one place. Individual sites no longer run local waiting lists. I have provided you with the number of men on site as requested but places are considered nationally, not locally.

Question 2: For each of HMP Bullingdon and HMP Bure how many facilitators/psychologists are there working on the HSF/HSP course?

HMP Bullingdon does not currently run the HSP hence the answer is zero.

HMP Bure has 2 psychologists trained as HSP therapists.

We do not hold the information that you have requested in the following questions and I have provided a reason for this against each question.

Question 3: For each of HMP Bullingdon and HMP Bure what is the expected waiting time between the arrival of a prisoner at the establishment and (a) assessment for suitability for this course, and (b) completion of this course?

It is not possible to provide a response to this question. This is partly as the referral list is in the process of being managed differently and also because the situation is very different from individual to individual. For example, different tariff expiry dates, different risk levels and motivation to engage. There is no standard expected waiting time.

Question 4: For each of HMP Bullingdon and HMP Bure are there any known planned changes that would affect the answers to questions (1), (2) and/or (3) in the near future?

This is speculative information. We hope to train additional therapists to deliver at HMP Bure. We are also reviewing the possibility of delivering HSP at HMP Bullingdon but this is not yet confirmed.

Please be advised that the Freedom of Information Act does not oblige a public authority to create information to answer a request if the requested information is not held. It does not place a duty upon the public authorities to answer a question unless recorded information exists. The Freedom of Information Act duty is only to provide the recorded information held.

I hope this information has been helpful.

You can find more information by reading the full text of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which is available at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/contents, and further guidance on the Act which is available at http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/freedom-of-information.htm.

UNCLASSIFIED